The Benefits of Listening Therapy

We all have issues listening to things, our minds tend to drift and we take in the surroundings and other sounds other than the voice directed at us. For some it’s easy enough to take in and retain loads of information, others would benefit largely from listening therapy which serves to assist with retaining the information as well as

What It Does

Developed to hone hearing and listening skills, listening therapy is like physiotherapy for the ears. Designed as a tool to hone overall communication skills, the therapy is used largely in children with autism and many youngsters dealing with auditory perception challenges.

The ability to learn and understand new information is fundamental for kids to overcome academic challenges later on. Listening therapy is essential for a strong cognitive foundation. The system can be used at home or in the class. By listening to certain musical instruments and stories, children are encouraged to actually take in what is being produced through headphones. This kind of therapy builds their auditory perception much like sport builds muscles and motor skills. Listening therapy also builds on the sensory integration and auditory processing in the brain, providing a support for the young ones.

The idea that listening therapy is only for autistic children is a notion that is still felt by many, but so many of us across the board need it nowadays. The therapy is for anyone who may suffer with dyslexia, speech difficulties, gifted children and many more. Listening is a skill that requires honing, particularly with the pressures of modern-day living. Children with perfectly good cognitive skills may still require listening therapy as there may be areas where they feel pressurised, such as learning the alphabet and the sounds that come with each letter.

Listening therapy stimulates the polyvagal system which regulates behaviour. Children are easily excited and their inability to actually listen to the human voice in these stages of excitement is well documented, throughout each household in the world, and the volumes of studies that have taken place.

Listening therapy has led to improvements in other areas such as better sleep patterns, and emotional states. Children sensitive to sound have shown a decrease in sound sensitivity and increased attention. The confidence boost it gives work well with children as the effects snowball and overall confidence grows in all aspects of their lives. Many parents have found the effects so positive they have decided to do listening therapy along with their children. The positive effects are quite profound.

Vida Denning is a freelance writer and she believes in listening therapy as her son battles with auditory perception. Sometimes she thought it was selective hearing, but then a professional pointed it was not, and why.